March 22, 1940 to November 3, 2015
Monica battled with depression until she took her own life on November 3, 2015.
She was born in Newfoundland into a very poor family. She moved to Ontario where she married and started her own.
She always wanted to help the underdog and went out of her way to help those in need. She volunteered with Out of the Cold (Cambridge), an organization that cared for the homeless. She gave blankets and food to a homeless man who was in her neighborhood.
She had a big heart, and is remembered for having an infectious laugh. She loved to sing and dance; Perhaps not the best singer but that didn’t stop her from singing and dancing and just being silly. She wasn’t the typical Grandma, but she really listened and gave the best advice she could. If her Granddaughter, Nikki wanted to listen to punk music in the car that is what they would listen to, and she would ask questions about it.
She was a mother, a sister, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, an aunt, a friend, a neighbour. We need to end the stigma of mental illness so no one in our lives has to lose a loved one to mental illness again.
We dedicate Hike for Happiness 2016 to Monica; You live among us through family and friends. We will remember you by dancing a little harder and singing a little louder.
10 November 1935 – 2 November 2017